After a natural gas leak closed a portion of Neuse Boulevard Thursday morning, crews repaired a cracked underground gas line and reopened the area to traffic.

Trouble started at 6:30 a.m. when someone called emergency dispatchers to report the smell of natural gas at 2828 Neuse Blvd. near the Craven County Health Department.

The leak occurred in an area where construction crews are working to replace a water main.

“Cayton Utilities was digging around the old pipeline to put in the new water line,” said Colleen Roberts, city of New Bern public information officer. “The area has not been unearthed in 40 years. The vibration of the digging caused the gas pipe to leak.”

In a statement, city officials said the aged line was not severed or punctured. Instead, it was cracked by the vibrations of heavy equipment moving over the surface and digging near the line.

Firefighters and police closed the roadway to allow Piedmont Natural Gas personnel to patch the leak, which was done by 11:15 a.m.

Because the line is more than 40 years old, crews also decided to remove the patched section and install a new section of pipe in the area, Roberts said.

New Bern Fire and Rescue Chief Bobby Aster was at the scene all morning. He said no one was injured.

“The wind was a help to the potentially dangerous gas leak,” he said.

Businesses in the area were encouraged to remain closed temporarily until the leak was patched. Later in the morning, employees were allowed to return to their work sites.